The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-09
THEFTS AT FUNERALS.
Women Who Attend tho House OF the
Dead for tho Purpos. Of stealing.

Dead for the Purpos. at stealing.
mo. madam. you can not enter"
said the usher gently, but firmly.
1.-The funeral is strictly private. and
no one without card is to be al
mitted.
"She was dear friend OF mine, +"
said the woman, and dainty white
handkerchief with broad band of
black was slowly raised to wipe away
the dcwy mist that obscurcd her sight.
"Cnn not see her once more?" There
was a deep pathos in tone and II
| plaintivc sob came from behind tho
linen, while tear-drop slowly coursed
down her pale cheek.
The heart of the usher softcncd He
was only a young man, and she looked
almost charming in her apparent dis
| trcss, so he allowed her to enter Tip
tocing softly into the par,or where no
one but m aged lady was sitting, she
bent over the open casket as if to take
one long, last look at the departed.
Then, while convulsive sobs shook her
form. she moved few PAGES and
leaned against the mantel, upon which
was placed u large amount of valuable
bric-a-brac. Here she remained for
moment with look OF sadness upon
her countenance betting the occasion.
while her lips tremblsd with suppressed
grief. The old lady was intcntly
! studying the pattern of the carpet, and
when the visitor left the room with
lowered head made no note Of her de-
| parturc. Once outside and away from
the house her steps quickened. and ten
minutes later valuable piece of
bisque was handed over a pawnbroker' 5
counter. while the clerk slowly count
cd out the requisite change
When the funeral was over and the
family once more alone. the loss was
discovered only to be charged against
some one Of the servants, or, perhaps,
kept secret through fear of offending
some of those present by searching
inquiry.
Funeral sneak thieves are becoming
more and more numerous" said u
well-known private detective. "Thcy
are always females. as the heavy
drapcry Of their clothing affords ample
opportunity for couccaling small
articles They scan the daily papers
closely, note the principal deaths, and
when the time arrives play off the
'dear-fiicnd' racket To perfection. As
they arc generally quite pretty, and
the beauty they naturally possess is
considerably enhanced by the somber-'
ness OF their attire, they succeed in
nine cases out OF ten in securing adj.
mission. no matter how private the
funeral services may be. Once inside
they cry little il necessary. and
watch their chance of stealing any
thing of value in the room. Having
succeeded. they make their departure
as quickly yet decorously rs possible,
and without tarrying a minute for fear
of possible detection and-pursuit, pawn
the stolen article.
when the room is full of people
the sneak-thief proceeds very cautious
~. often waiting until the prayer is
being made before endeavoring to Sc
cure any thing. None Of those present
pay any attention 10 her actions. think
ing that she is friend of the bereaved
family. In some cases articles which
are missed from upper rooms have
been taken by these women.
"An uptown lady recently placed
n valuable ring upon the finger Of her
dead daughter. only to find when she
looked ut her before the lid was
screwed down that il was gone. In
this instance suspicion Immediately at
tachcd TO woman whom no one
present knew. but who had lecn
noticed bending over the casket few
minutes before. She was called into
another room. and when accused Of
the theft'caimly handed over the ring.
In order to avoid scene she was
allowed to 20. In other eases. how.
ever. these van pires have succeeded In
removing jewc.ry from the dead aud
escaping with IL"-Phiiadeiphia ~.
2sirer.